Abu Sayyaf frees nursing student

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Suspected Abu Sayyaf men freed on Christmas Eve in Basilan a male nursing student they abducted last October after his family reportedly paid a huge ransom, authorities said.

Joed Anthony Pilanga, 18, a nursing student of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, was released to Basilan Vice Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul in Barangay Magkawa, Tipo-Tipo town at around 8 p.m. Wednesday.

1Lt. Steffani Cacho, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command, said Sakalahul negotiated the student’s release.

Pilanga stayed overnight in the vice governor’s residence in Isabela City before he was handed over to the 1st Marine Brigade for proper disposition.

Sakalahul flew from Manila on Tuesday and told The STAR aboard a Philippine Airlines flight to Zamboanga City that there was a positive development in Pilanga’s case, prompting him to cut short his vacation.

“As I promised to the Pilanga family this is my Christmas gift to them and to the people of Zamboanga,” Sakalahul said after securing the release of the student, who had been held captive for 69 days in the jungles of Tipo-Tipo.

“I am supposed to be with my family but because of my promise to the Pilanga family I had to cut short my stay (in Manila) but the two of us will be home for Christmas,” he added.

Pilanga, whom Sakalahul allowed to talk to The STAR, said he kept on praying amid threats to his life that he would be home for Christmas.

“I am very happy that indeed I will be home for Christmas,” he said.

Pilanga said he hopes that his ordeal would not happen to other people.

“Right now, all that I am thinking about is to (be) with my family,” he said.

There were reports that Pilanga was seen in the camp of rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

But Pilanga could not immediately say if his captors belonged to the MILF or Abu Sayyaf, except saying that a dozen armed young men guarded him.

Pilanga said he was fed with what was available in the mountain and was treated well, although he had to endure threats to his life.

Pilanga was tearfully reunited with his parents at the headquarters of the 1st Marine Brigade under Brig. Gen. Rustico Guerrero.

Sakalahul did not comment whether money changed hands, but Pilanga said an amount was paid although he did not know how much.

“They threatened to kill me if my family would not pay the ransom,” he said. “But I don’t have any idea how much.”

Security officials privy to the negotiations said a P2-million ransom was reportedly paid. Pilanga’s parents could not be reached for comment. They initially said though that the kidnappers demanded P20 million.

With Pilanga’s release, a nine-year-old daughter of a seaman still remains in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf.